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Michael Levine and the Stonewall Rebellion Interview

Unheard Voices: Stories of LGBT History

For Educators

ADL, GLSEN and StoryCorps collaborated to create Unheard Voices, an oral history and curriculum project that will help educators to integrate LGBT history, people and issues into their instructional programs.

Michael Levine was at a popular gay bar in New York City in June 1969...when it was surrounded by police. At the time, the vice squad routinely raided and emptied gay bars. Patrons usually complied with the police—frightened at being identified publicly. But this particular Friday night was different because patrons at the Stonewall Inn stood their ground. They clashed—during what became known as the Stonewall Riots. At Storycorps, Michael Levine reflects with his friend, Matt Merlin, on what happened that night.